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10-21-2003, 02:44 PM
18.10.2003
“I want to win the gold medal in Athens”
Sheryl Swoopes is one of the best female basketball players in the world, she has World Championship and Olympic Gold Medals and still has a lot of plans.
FIBA: Sheryl, what is on the top of the list for 2004?
Sheryl: “To win the gold medal in Athens, no doubt. I have been asked by USA Basketball to join the core team of 7 players, which has recently been announced, but I could not make a commitment at that time. I have a 6-year old son and I am a single mother. But I love to play at the Olympics, the world has become so much better, there are so many good teams now: the European teams, Brazil, Australia, China, and Korea. Everybody has his own style and it will be very competitive and the USA will always be the hunted one.”
FIBA: In Atlanta and in Sydney you were not staying in the Olympic village. Would you like to change that for Athens?
Sheryl: “I guess if you would take a vote at the team it would be in favour of the village. You miss out a part of the Olympic experience if you stay outside of the village: meeting other athletes from other sports, meeting other cultures, making friends and all that. But staying outside of the village also helps to stay focused on your goal, you are not so easily distracted. There is also the security issue, and I have to say that really appreciated the privacy. It has cons and pros.”
FIBA: You like international competition?
Sheryl: “Yes, also the FIBA Women’s World Cup is a great idea. When I first heard about it I was very hesitant. But look at our team: Russians playing together with Portuguese and US Americans – what a wonderful group with incredible talent. Now I am very excited to play on this team.”
FIBA: When did you start to play?
Sheryl: “When I was 7 years old, but I guess I was not very good at that age. I grew up in a small town and always went to play with my two elder brothers. I think it really helped me playing with boys, but it was also important for my personal development. I could release all my stress and anger.”
FIBA: Would you say basketball is suited for children playing together, no matter whether boys or girls?
Sheryl: “You will always find that most of the boys are stronger, faster and better jumpers. But they are not better shooters and in many other elements of the game we can take it up. When you first play with boys, the don’t want to play tough defense on you, because you are a girl. You have to earn their respect but you also have to take it to get pushed around or beaten up. It helped me a lot to play with my brothers, it always motivated me and I had to prove myself. You always profit in competing against better players, whereas you tend to get lazy when it becomes to easy for you. Basketball is certainly a sport where boys and girls can play together, especially at a young age where the physical dominance of the boys is not yet so dominant.”
FIBA: The WNBA will interrupt its season for the Olympics. Is this good or bad?
Sheryl: “For me it is good, because I can play with my team in the WNBA and then join the Olympic team before going back to the WNBA. But the break is not good for the fan in the USA. For the international players it is probably good as they can also join the national teams for the Olympics.”
FIBA: Where do you see the main problems in women’s basketball?
Sheryl: “The marketing strategy. We were not able to yet to reach out properly, a lot of people still don’t know how beautiful our sport is and how good we are. As a consequence, the money going to the sport and finally to the players is very limited. I strongly belief, that there is huge potential in our sport. I play the game because I love it, but I am a professional athlete.”
FIBA: Any changes in the rules?
Sheryl: “Personally, I prefer the bigger ball. And I think we should go to 6 fouls, as the international game is much more physical.” FIBA:Is your son a basketball player?
Sheryl: “Oh yeah! His name his Jordan Jackson, and I named him after the best player of all times. And he is like me (laughs) – he doesn’t like the referees.”
“I want to win the gold medal in Athens”
Sheryl Swoopes is one of the best female basketball players in the world, she has World Championship and Olympic Gold Medals and still has a lot of plans.
FIBA: Sheryl, what is on the top of the list for 2004?
Sheryl: “To win the gold medal in Athens, no doubt. I have been asked by USA Basketball to join the core team of 7 players, which has recently been announced, but I could not make a commitment at that time. I have a 6-year old son and I am a single mother. But I love to play at the Olympics, the world has become so much better, there are so many good teams now: the European teams, Brazil, Australia, China, and Korea. Everybody has his own style and it will be very competitive and the USA will always be the hunted one.”
FIBA: In Atlanta and in Sydney you were not staying in the Olympic village. Would you like to change that for Athens?
Sheryl: “I guess if you would take a vote at the team it would be in favour of the village. You miss out a part of the Olympic experience if you stay outside of the village: meeting other athletes from other sports, meeting other cultures, making friends and all that. But staying outside of the village also helps to stay focused on your goal, you are not so easily distracted. There is also the security issue, and I have to say that really appreciated the privacy. It has cons and pros.”
FIBA: You like international competition?
Sheryl: “Yes, also the FIBA Women’s World Cup is a great idea. When I first heard about it I was very hesitant. But look at our team: Russians playing together with Portuguese and US Americans – what a wonderful group with incredible talent. Now I am very excited to play on this team.”
FIBA: When did you start to play?
Sheryl: “When I was 7 years old, but I guess I was not very good at that age. I grew up in a small town and always went to play with my two elder brothers. I think it really helped me playing with boys, but it was also important for my personal development. I could release all my stress and anger.”
FIBA: Would you say basketball is suited for children playing together, no matter whether boys or girls?
Sheryl: “You will always find that most of the boys are stronger, faster and better jumpers. But they are not better shooters and in many other elements of the game we can take it up. When you first play with boys, the don’t want to play tough defense on you, because you are a girl. You have to earn their respect but you also have to take it to get pushed around or beaten up. It helped me a lot to play with my brothers, it always motivated me and I had to prove myself. You always profit in competing against better players, whereas you tend to get lazy when it becomes to easy for you. Basketball is certainly a sport where boys and girls can play together, especially at a young age where the physical dominance of the boys is not yet so dominant.”
FIBA: The WNBA will interrupt its season for the Olympics. Is this good or bad?
Sheryl: “For me it is good, because I can play with my team in the WNBA and then join the Olympic team before going back to the WNBA. But the break is not good for the fan in the USA. For the international players it is probably good as they can also join the national teams for the Olympics.”
FIBA: Where do you see the main problems in women’s basketball?
Sheryl: “The marketing strategy. We were not able to yet to reach out properly, a lot of people still don’t know how beautiful our sport is and how good we are. As a consequence, the money going to the sport and finally to the players is very limited. I strongly belief, that there is huge potential in our sport. I play the game because I love it, but I am a professional athlete.”
FIBA: Any changes in the rules?
Sheryl: “Personally, I prefer the bigger ball. And I think we should go to 6 fouls, as the international game is much more physical.” FIBA:Is your son a basketball player?
Sheryl: “Oh yeah! His name his Jordan Jackson, and I named him after the best player of all times. And he is like me (laughs) – he doesn’t like the referees.”